Christopher Catalano launched his agricultural drone business, SEK Agra Drones (SEKAD), in the spring of 2024. Inspired by a local growerâs inquiry about using drones for plant counts and spraying, Catalano recognised the potential for drone technology to enhance farming practices and optimise resource use.
SEKAD offers a range of services designed to improve efficiency and productivity for farmers:
Aerial Seeding: SEKAD utilises a DJI T40 drone to spread seed and granular commodities for both broad and targeted applications. This method proves particularly beneficial for covering crops, as it allows for the application of seeds over existing crops at the end of the growing season.
Crop Health Analysis: Using a M3M drone equipped with NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge) technology, SEKAD generates detailed aerial images. By measuring the reflection of light in specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, these indices effectively map out vegetation health, particularly highlighting areas with potential nitrogen deficiencies. This information empowers farmers to make informed decisions regarding pesticide, fertilizer, and other resource allocation, ensuring targeted interventions where needed.
Prescription (Treatment Maps): SEKAD combines data from crop health analysis to create comprehensive aerial GPS maps. These detailed âprescription mapsâ are delivered in a variety of formats, including .shp files and PDFs, suitable for uploading onto farm management systems for precise, data-driven planning and field operations.
Stand Counts: SEKAD assists farmers with accurate plant population counts and emergence percentage assessments across their fields. This service is particularly valuable for row crops, including canola, corn, cotton, soybeans, trees, and vegetables. It provides critical insights for informed decisions regarding replanting, additional inputs, and other adjustments for optimal growth.
Weed Identification: SEKAD uses drone technology to identify weeds and other unwanted vegetation, generating GPS location maps for targeted treatment. This approach allows for efficient, spot-spray applications, ensuring optimal herbicide use and minimising impact on beneficial plant life.
SEKAD serves a wide geographical area, covering Fort Scott and surrounding regions, including Bourbon County, Kansas City, Wichita, Joplin, Northwest Arkansas, and the surrounding areas. Catalano is assisted by his son, Gavin, a high school senior with a passion for agricultural drone technology and a deep understanding of crop health and potential challenges.
Catalano emphasizes that the agricultural drone industry is continuously evolving, offering innovative solutions for âSmart Farming.â SEKAD is committed to adding value to farming operations, ensuring their services are practical and address real-world needs. The company continues to explore and adopt new technologies, partnering with other businesses to offer a wider range of services, including drone-based application of fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides.
SEKADâs approach reflects the growing trend towards precision agriculture, where technology is leveraged to optimise resource use and improve farm productivity. By combining advanced drone technology with experienced personnel and a focus on meeting farmer needs, SEKAD is playing a key role in shaping the future of agriculture.
